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Talented scriptwriter and Bath Spa University graduate debuts at Cannes Film Festival

Monday, 23 May, 2016

Bath Spa University graduate, Brittany McComas, debuted her short film Dr Sugarloaf at Cannes Film Festival last week.

The prestigious Cannes Film Festival is an annual event which premiers new films and documentaries of all genres.

Dr Sugarloaf, written by Brittany and directed and co-written by Sarah Mallabar, tells the story of a shop assistant who has her daydream transported into a vintage movie which then plays on a TV in her shop.

Brittany, originally from West Virginia graduated from Bath Spa University in 2009 with an MA in Scriptwriting. When she came to England, she decided she wanted to work in the production side of the creative industries.

Brittany said: “I knew 20 minutes into my interview with lecturers that this was the course for me. I just hoped and prayed that I would be accepted.”

She believes that she wouldn’t be at Cannes now had it not been for the support network at Bath Spa. She said: “At Bath Spa University, we are taught in terms of ‘when you succeed’, not ‘if you succeed’. The tutors push you to reach your potential and you feel truly part of a family.”

“As a former student, you continue building friendships and making connections. As alumni of Bath Spa we constantly encourage one another to be the best we can be.”

Giving advice too current and future students Brittany said: “You never know where and when you might stumble onto an opportunity, so don’t ever give up. Don’t judge the small things as something ‘not that great’. It really could take you somewhere like Cannes Film Festival.

“When I give lectures and workshops to future creative writers I always use this bit of advice by Ira Glass: ‘For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer...you have just got to fight your way through.’”

“I fought really hard, and I wrote something extraordinary because I never gave up. That is the one thing I learned at Bath Spa. Never give up.”

Brittany has exciting hopes for Dr Sugarloaf and is in discussions about the film being distributed globally.

When asked what advice she would give to students who are graduating and moving into the industry, Brittany said: “Remind yourself to take a deep breath – because this industry is 24/7.”